‘Bacterial translocation (BT) describes the passage of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to normally sterile tissues such as the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and other internal organs. The clinical and pathophysiological significance of BT remains controversial. This report describes results obtained over a 13-year period of study.”
Table 1. Patients characteristics and indication for laparotomy
| Type of surgery | |
| Emergency | 185 |
| Elective | 742 |
| Diagnosis | |
| Malignancy | 543 (58·6) |
| Upper gastrointestinal | 26 |
| Pancreaticohepatobiliary | 16 |
| Colorectal | 402 |
| Other | 99 |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 94 (10·1) |
| Crohn’s disease | 44 |
| Ulcerative colitis | 50 |
| Benign upper gastrointestinal | 54 (5·8) |
| Benign pancreaticohepatobiliary | 44 (4·7) |
| Benign lower gastrointestinal | 105 (11·3) |
| Abdominal aortic aneurysm | 87 (9·4) |
‘The results of this study demonstrate that BT occurs in surgical patients with an overall prevalence of about 14 per cent and is associated with an increased incidence of postoperative septic morbidity. BT occurred more frequently in patients who underwent emergency surgery and in those who received preoperative TPN. In contrast to reports published previously by both the authors and other investigators, there was no evidence to suggest an independent association between BT and age, intestinal obstruction, obstructive jaundice,inflammatory bowel disease, or malignancy”
MacFie J, et. Al Bacterial translocation studied in 927 patients over 13 years. Br J Surg. 2006 Jan;93(1):87-93. Full Text for Emory Users
Surgical Focus 